The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation For Documentary Photography & Film

Mirroring the mission of our foundation and themes covered in our still photography grants, we invite documentary film makers around the globe to share their human interest stories and submit their “Short-Short” documentary film projects highlighting human unrest, forgotten communities, over-exploited people and environments impacted by war, poverty, famine, disease, exploitation and global distress.

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film will award a US$5,000 grant to a single completed “Short-Short” documentary film project. Our grant is open to up-and-coming, independent film makers and directors in all countries. Participant must be committed to the field of reportage and documentary film making.
Eligible Work

All entries must be individual, stand-alone non-fiction documentary films of 10 – 30 minutes in length and must have been completed no earlier than two years prior to the March 31 closing date of the submission call. Film submissions may be either an original subject feature or a historical subject feature. Submissions may be produced in actual occurrence, or employ partial reenactment (if needed), stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is strictly on fact and not fiction. The film must show real characters and not actors portraying the roles of real characters. Dialogue and narration can be produced in any language. All non-English dialogue and narration must be provided with English subtitles.

Entries must be submitted by the individual(s) most involved in the key creative aspects of the film making process. There will only be one award prize regardless the number of individuals involved in the submission.

All entrants must complete a grant application, and submit all required supporting materials per rules and submission guidelines found here. Please be certain to read the entirety of our guidelines for submission details and expectations including how and when to submit a digital copy of your completed work being considered for the grant. During second round submissions, no work will be accepted as a link to third-party websites. All work including film must be submitted digitally or physically.
Submission Dates and Deadlines

Judging will take place in two rounds. “Round One” judging will assess all entries submitted via URL links to personal or third-party video hosting sites such as Vimeo or YouTube for quality, content, real world impact on humanity. Of these only the most prolific film projects for the year, called our Top-10 list, will be moved on to “Round Two.” All “Round Two” entries will be required to submit a copy of the actual physical, digital copy of their completed project for judging, inclusion on our website, and for ultimate exhibition during Les Rencontres d’Arles, Arles, France. A grant laureate will be selected from this list.